Quraan 2:256 No compulsion in matters of faith

This is a critical issue and has a lot more implications than we apply it to. I take this internally and if we can expand on understanding the wisdom of Qur’aan that Allah has communicated, it will threaten the fat Muslim clergy establishment. It is coming though.

It is human nature or human fitra for one to be free, that's how God has made it. Islam, peacemaking, creating a world of harmony hinges on free will.

Prophet Muhammad shook the idea and removed the conflicts by bringing diverse people together from a point of view of "my own god vs. your own god" to "our common god". Now Muslims have created, "my own tradition (sunni, Shia, Ahmadiyya, and wahhabi) to become a God of theirs. Javed, you ask why this issue is brought up again and again... look at the idiot guardians of Islam issuing idiotic fatwa’s against each other. Sunnis claiming shias are no Muslim and vice-versa. We have to come to a common Islam, without losing our uniqueness.

I take this further (Muslims are not ready for this) - in an evening party gatherings, I would not want any one even to remind the other to join up for Salat (namaz), it is individuals responsibility. If you want to pray go do it, it is your duty and you are the one to answer God, not me or anyone else. Who knows what she or he is going through? Social compulsions and embarrassments about asking are you fasting.. will fade away in the next two generations giving true value to no compulsion in religion. If Muslims can understand that, there is no compulsion in Islam, they would have understood Islam. when people get this, the establishment gets threatened, as if Islam is taken away from them, if Islam is not an internal idea of submission to god and external idea of acts, then they would lose it.

I have to put some research work together on this, Insha Allah, one of these days. I know you will not do it, as you are afraid of losing your support from the likes of guardians of establishment. Javed, let's have the freedom to express the truth of creating a world of peace, submission to peace of humanity; God's will. It is not just you; it is the same story with the Christians, Hindus, Jews, Buddhists and others. Hold on to status quo or what is dished out to us, we fear them and not the Creator who wants us to get along and accept and respect each one of his creation.

May we learn about all religions and the beauty they offer to create a peaceful living. Mazhab nahin sikhata aapas may bair rakhna.

Iftekhar is on the right track, this non-sense about Abrogation of one verse against the other must be summarily discarded. Just because the Imams of yester years did not comprehend the wholeness of Qur’aan, which is a beautiful document for co-existence of humanity, they took exceptions and start abrogating one or the other. With all due respect to those great imams, they understood the Qur’aan that worked for them, their understanding does not work for us living in free societies where there is no compulsion, a real Qur’anic way of life.

We need to develop our own understanding and I know it frightens many; the change is coming. At least the American Muslim kids will not take some of the crap developed and thrown on Muslims as if it were Islamic.

Mike Ghouse
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What is meaning of 2:256 "NO COMPULSION IN RELIGION."

various interpretation of verse 2:256, "There shall be no Compulsion in Religion" there are various interpretation. See below:

Abrogated: The passage was overridden by subsequent Quranic verses (such as 9:73: "O Prophet! Struggle against the unbelievers (Jews & Christians) and hypocrites (Jews & Christians) and be harsh with them").

Purely symbolic: The phrase is a description, not an imperative. Islam's truth is so obvious that to coerce someone to become a Muslim does not amount to "compulsion"; or else being made to embrace Islam after defeat in war is not viewed as "compulsion."

Spiritual, not practical: Governments may indeed compel external obedience, though they of course cannot compel how Muslims think. (This is evident in Saudi Arabia )

Limited in time and place: It applied uniquely to Jews (only) in Medina in the seventh century.

Present day Jews, Christians, Hindus and Buddhists have no choice but to read the Quran and covert. They must convert to Islam for salvation.

Limited to non-Muslims who live under and accept Muslim rule: Some jurists say it applies only to "Peoples of the Book" (Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians); others say it applies to all infidels.

Excludes some non-Muslims: Apostates, women, children, prisoners of war, and others can indeed be compelled. (This is the standard interpretation that has applied in most times and places).

Limited to all non-Muslims: Muslims must abide by the tenets of Islam and may not apostatize.

Limited to Muslims: Muslims may shift from one interpretation of their faith to another (such as from Sunni to Shia), but may not leave Islam.

Applied to all persons: Reaching the true faith must be achieved through trial and testing, and compulsion undercuts this process.

There is massive disagreement among the various school of thoughts among Muslim scholars, ulemas and maulanas: The debate over the no-compulsion verse has several important implications.

Ibn-e-Arabi says (12the century scholar) 200 verses have been abrogated and Shah Waliullah (18th Century scholar) says only 5 verses. There is total confusion and chaos among present day "Hafiz-e- Qurans." This leaves more confusion in the minds of modern day Muslim youth of internet generation.

First, it shows that Islam - like all religions - is whatever believers make of it. The choices for Muslims range from Taliban-style repression to Balkan-style liberality. There are few limits; and there is no "right" or "wrong" interpretation.

Muslims in USA and Europe have a clean slate to resolve what "no compulsion" means in the 21st century We have yet to come up with a good "translation" of our Holy Quran that will take the global village concept into consideration addressing the global challenges for humanity.

Iftekhar Hai
UMA Interfaith Alliance
Tel: 650-872-2578 www.umaia.net

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Mohtaram Iftakhar Sahib

ASAK

I can’t understand why you keep on discussing the issue of “compulsion” in Islam. Do you find anywhere in the world Muslims forcing others to accept Islam? If you have a project or you are helping any organization in this regard better tell them the real problems of the world, most of which are related to irreligion rather than religion, and illuminate them abut how these problems can be tackled by following the socioeconomic system of Islam.

Both you and I think globally. But there is a clear difference. I study and analyse the modern developments in the light of Qur’an and want to change the world in accordance with Fundamental Rights, duties and Prohibitions enshrined in the Book. On the other hand you want to reinterpret certain Quranic verses to make them suit the demands of the current world order, which is largely based on un-Islamic principles.

As far as the verse “La ikraha fid deen is concerned, in my humble view, “Ikraha” is traditionally being erroneously translated as” compulsion” and “Deen” as “religion”. Ikraha to me means something reprehensible as it is derived from karaha and its well known derivative is ”makruh”

The translation of these verses in my opinion should be: “There is nothing reprehensible in System (of Islam). Guidance has become clearly distinguishable from Misguidance. So one who rejects the Taghut (forces of corruption) and is convinced about God, he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. “

Religion relates to one’s internal beliefs and personal actions; system also includes the external conditions including the law and environment. Islam is not a religion; it is System that does not only want the people to have a right belief system and personal righteousness but also establishes a system that protects people and helps them attain their rightful goals without fear.

Dr Javed Jamil
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Dear Javed Saheb:

We need good interpretation and translation of Quranic verses in English because there is a great need. This is the reality in America, UK, India & Europe.

You have said: On the other hand you want to reinterpret certain Quranic verses to make them suit the demands of the current world order, which is largely based on un-Islamic principles.

My answer: Almost all the Muslims who have settled in West and also in the Islamic world say, "There is more Islam in Western countries with the exception of "sexism and Banking system." Your writings on both this subject also seconds this facts. But in all reality....I have lived in Pakistan and also visited almost all the Islamic countries. I find lots of Muslims but no Islam. This is said by many Muslims...I am merely repeating what has already been said before.


The Arab world treats Indian-Pakistani Muslims as third class citizens. There are numerous reports of abuse of power by the Arabs. There is so much hypocrisy and see what the Quran says, "The arabs of the desert are worst in hypocrisy and unbelief and most suited to be ignorant of the message that Allah has send to His messenger. " 9:97 and in 9:101 the hypocrisy gets very obstinate and the punishment gets more severe.

There are no individual rights in Muslim world as you find individual rights in Western world. They know Arabic and the Quran but what they practice is, "corrupted and sensual policies."....why

JAVED SAHEB...IT IS FOR THIS REASON WE NEED TO RE-INTERPRET THE QURANIC VERSES TO REVERSE THE PATH THAT MUSLIMS ARE FOLLOWING......IT IS SELF - DESTRUCTIVE AND ARROGANT TO THE CORE.

IN THE AREA OF SEXUAL HABITS THE MUSLIM WORLD IS ALSO NO LESS AND THERE IS SO MUCH CORRUPTION IN EVERYDAY LIFE:

JAVED SAHEB...IT IS FOR THIS REASON WE NEED TO RE-INTERPRET THE QURANIC VERSES TO REVERSE THE PATH THAT MUSLIMS ARE FOLLOWING......IT IS SELF - DESTRUCTIVE AND ARROGANT TO THE CORE.

In the field of education, scienctific research, inventions and discovery. We Muslims are 1.5 billion. There is no noble price winners. Muslims have not contributed in the field of science, inventions and technology as they should be doing. We are the most ignorant people. We rely on handouts from the Western countries, our economic system is broken.....WHY...We read the Quran and Arabic is our mother tongue still we are the most illiterate people of the world. The Chinese, Hindus, Jews, and even the Communist world is ahead of us..why

JAVED SAHEB...IT IS FOR THIS REASON WE NEED TO RE-INTERPRET THE QURANIC VERSES TO REVERSE THE PATH THAT MUSLIMS ARE FOLLOWING......IT IS SELF - DESTRUCTIVE AND ARROGANT TO THE CORE.

The way the Quran is explained to the Muslim world is based in the mind-set of 6th century Arabian culture of "jahaliyah."
We have to set ourselves free from that 6th century mind-set and come in this fast changing jet-set, technologically changing world. Globally we are behind everybody...if we have "correct interpretation" of our moral and our character why do you think we have sunk so low.....that everyone is walking over us.

JAVED SAHEB...IT IS FOR THIS REASON WE NEED TO RE-INTERPRET THE QURANIC VERSES TO REVERSE THE PATH THAT MUSLIMS ARE FOLLOWING......IT IS SELF - DESTRUCTIVE AND ARROGANT TO THE CORE.

Please do not take this personally.......I want to make a forceful point that our "ummah" is sinking because of several reasons. The only thing left with us is the Quran..........and Muslims have faith in God...there is hope. But you have to re-polish the wheel, rust off "mental arrogance" and role up your sleves and look at Quran from global perspective where Muslims are a minority facing annihilation. We cannot even control our own resources and refine our own oil. We need Western minds and Western technology....there is something drastically wrong here. The oil will soon be gone and we will be left to die and beg for survival. That is why I am saying:

JAVED SAHEB...IT IS FOR THIS REASON WE NEED TO RE-INTERPRET THE QURANIC VERSES TO REVERSE THE PATH THAT MUSLIMS ARE FOLLOWING......IT IS SELF - DESTRUCTIVE AND ARROGANT TO THE CORE.


Iftekhar Hai
UMA Interfaith Alliance
Tel: 650-872-2578 www.umaia.net